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Farah "happy" for samples to be re-tested as Russia cry foul


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Mo Farah claims he's "happy" for any of his previous samples to be re-tested. 

The four-time Olympic gold medallist made the claim on Twitter after Russia accused UK Anti-Doping of creating a "wall of mistrust" surrounding Farah's samples.

Farah's former coach Alberto Salazar was given a four-year ban by the US Anti-Doping Agency in October for doping violations.

None of Salazar's athletes at the Nike Oregon Project were banned, and Farah has always maintained his innocence. 36-year old Farah has also never failed a drugs test.

However, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) is expected to re-test samples from the Oregon training group of which Farah was a member between 2010 and 2017. USADA have also shown an interest in obtaining Farah's samples which are held in the UK.

Last week, UK Anti-Doping chief executive Nicole Sapstead said she would block such a move as it would risk degrading the sample, adding, "I was simply saying to USADA, ‘You need to be able to give me credible evidence about what it is you want to look for, rather than this just being a trawling expedition'".

Sapstead's stance led to an angry response from Margarita Pakhnotskaya, the deputy general of the Russian Anti-Doping Agency.

Russia was banned in December by WADA from competing in major international sporting events for a period of four years for altering data linked to positive doping tests.

And Pakhnotskaya told news agency TASS that, "The World Anti-Doping Code and Wada standards are the same for everyone.

"Be it the British Anti-Doping Agency, Rusada or some other. Otherwise, the system will not work. Therefore, I believe that Ukad should not obstruct any transfer of samples.

"According to paragraph 6.5 of the World Anti-Doping Code, the subsequent additional analysis of doping samples can be carried out at any time solely on the instructions of the anti-doping organisation or on the instructions of Wada.

"Any opacity on either side, and this is not just about UKAD, creates a wall of mistrust in the country's anti-doping system and, accordingly, its athletes as part of the system."

Farah says he has not been consulted about potential re-testing of his samples but claims he is happy for any anti-doping body to test any of his previous samples anytime.

Having retired from track running to concentrate on the marathon in 2018, Farah has performed a U-turn and is aiming to win a third 10,000m Olympic gold medal at the Tokyo 2020 games.

Speaking in December, Farah said of his goal, "It would be history. It would be incredible and something that no one has ever done in terms of a distance runner and someone my age."


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Mo Farah Olympic Games RUSADA Russia Tokyo 2020 UKAD Wada

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